K. Sparks - Gold Chain

Pairing gritty, (usually) sample-driven production with gymnastic flows and punchline-driven braggadocio, K. Sparks’ brand of underground fire is as classic as Gold Chains and tracksuits – which makes it all the more impressive that he manages to make his retro-informed jams sound so damn fresh. The Queens phenom’s latest effort, his first release since returning from overseas, is no exception to the rule. Feelings beatsmith Marvel goes for a minimal yet melodic vibe on the production, serving up a wordless vocal sample and boom-bap backbeat accented with dissonant bells as Sparks drops a characteristically dense melange of wordplay, braggadocio and pop-culture references. Last heard spitting alongside Sparks on ‘09’s Three Card Monte, Brooklyn representative Angelous (who doesn’t own a gold chain – but has his eye on yours) takes over on the back end, slinging internal rhymes like they’re going out of style: “I been here on the block rockin’ the King gear / men fear the box, I’m hopscotchin’ a grim year.” This joint isn’t attached to any forthcoming project, but those digging it should cop Sparks’ recently-released Tomorrow Today LP immediately.